a handful of passengers were on another
Miracle
flight onto Charlotte that evening.
Sharing a mission
Ken is responsible for providing a broad
spectrum of intelligence, crisis
on the Hudson
management and corporate security
support for all aspects of Bank of
America business. “We have a fantastic
relationship with International SOS”, he
says. “And the suite of services we use
Just after 3.30pm on January 15, 2009 us Airways
is in my opinion unmatched.”
Flight 1549 ditched into New York’s icy Hudson River
Before his time with Bank of America,
Ken served with the Federal Bureau of
with 155 passengers onboard. Investigation on a variety of operational
and strategic programs. Previously he
served 13 years as a Marine Corps
T
he US Airways Airbus A320 Ken. “So TravelTracker was our primary Officer and national-level intelligence
crashed just after taking off from source of information.” officer. He places huge importance on
LaGuardia Airport and heading ensuring that the right security response
for Charlotte, North Carolina. As the plane started drifting rapidly is in place to minimize risk.
Thankfully there was no loss of life, downriver the rescue operation was
but all passengers along with five crew carried out. With the news that no one “We share a mission with International
members were rescued in freezing was seriously hurt, relief spread at what SOS to keep individuals safe when they
conditions, with a number later treated New York Senator Charles Schumer travel”, he says. TravelTracker is
for unspecified injuries. called a ‘modern-day miracle’. integrated with the Bank’s travel service
so that travel data is always up to date.
At Bank of America, Global “Once we knew the rescue was “TravelTracker is critical to helping us
Intelligence and Analysis Director for underway we immediately established keep all 300,000 of our associates safe”,
Corporate Security, Ken Lucas was protective services at entry points on he says. “In particular, we can
watching events unfold. “As soon as the the pier to where the passengers were communicate with all our travelers from
plane was down, we had notifications lifted”, says Ken. “From there all our one communication portal.”
from various sources”, he recalls. “My people were taken to a hotel to be
analyst immediately corroborated it examined.” Amazingly normal life With a brief to achieve a more secure
with personnel at International SOS’ resumed relatively quickly and all but environment for all the Bank’s
Philadelphia alarm center who employees, Ken’s role includes providing
confirmed what had happened.”
“TravelTracker is critical to
intelligence and situational reports to
Primary source
helping us keep all 300,000 of
executives and associates worldwide.
“The system automates the process of
Within seconds Ken entered details
our associates safe.”
ensuring that all our travelers have the
of the flight onto the web-based right advice before they travel”, he
TravelTracker system to find out says. “And with the automated
exactly who from the Bank was travel advisories I can craft the
involved. In total 24 associates language so it’s right for my
were known to have booked onto audience. In effect I am
the flight through the company’s communicating with every single
travel agent. individual who is traveling to a
high-risk country – with both
With images of the aircraft medical and security concerns.”
sinking into the water now being
broadcast, concern was mounting Behind the scenes
for those on board. “In these David Marks, International SOS’
circumstances airlines routinely General Manager, Online Services,
shut down their manifest”, says has been strategically involved
14 InternatIonal sos
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